Valparaiso's Richardson, Detroit's Nelkie Named Cross Country Runners of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS -- Valparaiso junior Jessica Richardson (Columbus, Ind.) and Detroit senior Martin Nelkie (West Branch, Mich.) have been named Horizon League Runners of the Week for the week of Sept. 17-23.

Richardson ran a time of 23:29.84 on the 6,100 meter course at the Iona Meet of Champions. Richardson’s time was good for 18th place out of 190 runners. The meet annually features regionally and nationally ranked squads, with four regionally ranked teams taking part in the 2013 edition. This is the third time Richardson has been named Horizon League Runner of the Week, with the other two honors coming during the 2012 season.

Nelkie led Detroit for the third-straight week with a career-best finish at the 34th Annual National Catholic Championship. Nelkie’s time of 25:44 put him in 14th place among 260 runners, 91 of which competed in the Division I field. The time of 25:44 was the best time by a Titan at the event since Ken Dubois’ time in 1987. This is Nelkie’s first Horizon League Runner of the Week honor.

Valparaiso will compete next at the Notre Dame Invitational on Oct. 4; while Detroit is in action the next day at the Greater Louisville Classic on Oct. 5.

Top Runners for the Week:
Louisa Coppola, Detroit (Sr., Warren, Mich.) - The 2013 two-time Runner of the Week finished in 14th place out of 91 Division I runners at the 34th Annual National Catholic Championship. Her time of 17:58 was a career-best time, and broke the team record for the event.
Tori Holt, Cleveland State (Jr., Mount Vernon, Ohio) - Set a career-best 6K time of 23:27 at the Friendship Invitational. The time put Holt in 12th place out of 107 runners.
Rachel Janson, Wright State (Sr., Dayton, Ohio) - Led the Raiders to a fourth place finish at the Friendship Invitational with a 6K time of 24:04. 
Sammy Mondry, Oakland (Fr., Grand Rapids, Mich.) - Mondry finished in 20th place at the Western Invitational with a 5K time of 18:58, leading the Grizzlies to a fourth place finish.
Michael Cox, Oakland (So., Pinckney, Mich.) - Cox led the Grizzlies in Ontario to a second place team finish at the Western Invitational with an 8K time of 25:45, good for eighth place.
David Rutkowski, Valparaiso (Jr., Cedarburg, Wis.) - Recorded an 8K time of 28:17.6 at the Iona Meet of Champions to finish in 118th place.
Dan Shafer, Wright State (Sr., Painesville, Ohio.) - Finished in ninth place to lead the Raiders to a fourth place finish at the Friendship Invitational. Finished the 8K course in a time of 26:16.

Cross Country Runners of the Week:
Sept. 3 Michael Cox (Oakland); Louisa Coppola (Detroit)
Sept. 9 Eric Rupe (Youngstown State); Louisa Coppola (Detroit)
Sept. 16 Weston Brusky (Milwaukee); Samantha Hamilton (Youngstown State)
Sept. 23 Martin Nelkie (Detroit); Jessica Richardson (Valparaiso)